Gas filter mask on Mars - sci fi

In summary, the author discusses how partial pressure of oxygen would be insufficient for breathing in a mask with an ambient pressure on the body. If the masks are passive, not actively taking in oxygen, and the ambient pressure is on the body, the breathing capacity will be limited by the tolerance of muscles.
  • #1
DaveC426913
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TL;DR Summary
In Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Series, they had gas masks that preferentially let oxygen through. Can that work?
In the early parts of the books, Mars' ambient atmo pressure (and temperature) was increased, including not just CO2, but oxygen as well.

It rose to the point where they only needed masks that let through oxygen but not CO2.

In my amateur view, I would expect that this would not work very well. I see the partial pressure of oxygen entering the mask as being insufficient for breathing - they would be gasping for air and sucking deeply with every breath just to get oxygen.

Of course, it would be very dependent on the ambient atmo pressure and the concentration of oxygen...

Let's assume the masks are passive, not actively taking in oxygen and pressurizing it.(While this is couched in a sci-fi story, the physics is real - and could conceivably work today for high altitudes - so i figure this is a more appropriate forum than Sci-Fi.)
 
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In theory, you could filter at a molecular level of fineness and only pass molecules of some particular size. If oxygen is the smallest size molecule, that could work. However, the membrane would be like a membrane in a reverse osmosis machine or membranes used in dialysis. The resistance to flow/surface area would be large. RO machines often use pumps to push water through their membranes.

An alternative could be sending the air through soemthing like a resin that binds all the molecules you don't want. This would be a larger device, but with lower flow resistance. The filter material would get saturated however and would have to be replaced or treated to dump the bound molecules before it would be useful again.
 
  • #3
That's all good to know.

To me, it seems as simple as: with only a partial pressure of oxygen at the face mask, and full ambient pressure on the body (i.e. lungs), a person would have to struggle to inhale - like trying to use a hollow reed to breathe at the bottom of a pond.
 
  • #4
Correct. Unless there's some kind of inert gas circulated within the breather to equalize the pressure like in some types of diving or similar breathing devices, the breathing capacity will be limited by the tolerance of muscles involved.
 
  • #5
Rive said:
Correct. Unless there's some kind of inert gas circulated within the breather to equalize the pressure like in some types of diving or similar breathing devices,
I am not sure I see how this would work.

Rive said:
the breathing capacity will be limited by the tolerance of muscles involved.
If you transpose this from abstract to practical, ie. by imagining what it would be like to use such a device, I think anyone would categorize it as non-viable except as an emergency device. No device that makes you feel like you're sucking vacuum would be tolerable for more than a few minutes.
 
  • #6
DaveC426913 said:
am not sure I see how this would work
Think of it as a special type of rebreather where the oxygen supply comes by filtering the 'air'.
 
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  • #7
During cold periods on Mars the surface temperature would require a human to have 100% "coverage". So why try to create a mask in addition to whatever shield you have against the cold.

The predication for this thread is kind of weird, the topic of partial pressure enhancement itself is first rate. I'm not sure where the thread should be. :confused:

Do not neglect thermodynamics - it will require substantial energy to increase the partial pressure of anyone gas in the Martian atmosphere up to something compatible with Earth life. There is no free lunch on this one.
Low partial pressures of ##O_2## will suck oxygen out of the pulmonary system otherwise.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6420699/
 
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PS: Very low ##PCO_2## levels also affect the pulmonary system, too. Our pulmonary system evolved on Earth for ±300 million years, so there are lots of gotchas going to other planets
 
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  • #9
notenoughscience said:
What about positioning the filter at the intake of an air compressor?
See OP:
DaveC426913 said:
Let's assume the masks are passive, not actively taking in oxygen and pressurizing it.
 
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  • #10
DaveC426913 said:
See OP:

🤦‍♂️ Well that's embarrassing. Thanks for pointing that out.
 
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1. How does the gas filter mask work on Mars?

The gas filter mask on Mars works by using advanced filtration technology to remove harmful gases from the Martian atmosphere. The mask is designed to fit securely over the wearer's face and has a series of filters that trap and remove harmful gases before they can be inhaled.

2. What types of gases does the gas filter mask on Mars protect against?

The gas filter mask on Mars is designed to protect against a variety of gases that are present in the Martian atmosphere. This includes carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other toxic gases that could be harmful to human health.

3. Is the gas filter mask on Mars reusable?

Yes, the gas filter mask on Mars is reusable. The filters can be replaced as needed, but the mask itself is designed to be durable and long-lasting. This makes it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for protecting against Martian gases.

4. How long can the gas filter mask on Mars be worn before needing to be replaced?

The length of time that the gas filter mask on Mars can be worn before needing to be replaced will depend on the level of gas exposure and the quality of the mask. However, on average, the filters should be replaced every 6-8 hours to ensure maximum protection.

5. Can the gas filter mask on Mars protect against all types of gases?

The gas filter mask on Mars is designed to protect against a wide range of gases, but it may not be effective against all types. It is important to regularly check and replace the filters to ensure maximum protection against the gases present on Mars.

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